Page 28 of More Than a Little Spark

“Hop in.Let’s go eat.I wonder what Goldie made this morning.”

Mason and Fred buckle in.Then Mason says, “I hope she made pancakes.She makes really good ones.And she might make them because Dag loves them too, and she likes doing things that make Dag kiss her more.”

“Eww.The guys on the ranch kiss way too much.”Fred shakes his head disapprovingly.

Mason grins.“They love each other.You can ask Mr.Clint.He’ll tell you.When I first came to live on the ranch, I saw Mr.Clint kiss Miss Joji.But that was because there was a bad storm.He didn’t know that he loved her yet.They were just friends.”

“I don’t kiss my friends.”Fred wags a finger to emphasize his declaration.

I can’t say I’m not a tad relieved to hear him say that.It’ll be a little sad when he grows out of this stage.One day, I’ll worry that he’s kissing girls.

Mason sighs.“I don’t kiss my friends either.But one day, if I ever see my friend Clementine again, I might kiss her.For sure, I’m going to tell her she’s pretty because I never got to tell her.”

“Did she move away or something?”I lock gazes with Mason through the rearview mirror.

He nods.“Yeah.But I didn’t find out until after she left.It happened fast.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.But since Fred and Bailey are here, I’m not as sad as I used to be.”

I park outside the main house and turn around to look at the guys.“Good.I’m really glad you and Fred met.And I hope y’all stay friends for a long time.”

Fred nods.“Yeah.Like forever.”

They scramble out of the truck, then high-five each other.It warms my heart to see Fred getting the kind of childhood some people only dream about.I’m not saying I’m the best parent in the world, but here on the ranch, he has good friends and lots of people who care about him.What’s not to love about that?

There’s justover a week until Christmas, and I haven’t had a free evening to take Daphne out again.But today, I have some last-minute shopping to do, so I figured I’d invite her along.

I don’t even bother texting.Sitting in my truck, I call her.

She answers on the second ring.“Carson, hi!”

“Howdy.How are you today?Feel up to going shopping with me?”I’m amazed at how natural it feels to invite her out.The request wasn’t preceded by days of overthinking, practicing what I should say.

“Yes!I can’t drive yet, so you’ll have to come get me, but I’m doing great.I mean, I’m still on crutches.I can put weight on the foot, so it isn’t so horrible.And I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Daphne.We can get you one of those motorized carts when we’re out so that you don’t have to be on crutches the whole time.”

“Maybe.When should I be ready?”She sounds just as excited as I am about seeing each other again, and that is good for my ego.

Everything about Daphne is good for my ego.

“I’m headed out now.Are you at Rose’s or your apartment?”I start the engine and swap over to speaker, so that I can talk as I drive.

“I’ll text you an address.And don’t freak out when you get here.At the gate, just give them your name.Later, when we’re together, I’ll explain where I’ve been staying.It’s a bit of a story.”

Now I’m curious.“Can’t wait to hear it.”I check my texts and see an address in San Antonio.It’s not far from the mall where I need to shop, so that’s convenient.“I’ll be there in thirty-four minutes.”I padded the drive time with an extra couple of minutes in case I hit unexpected traffic.

When she mentioned a gate, it kind of went over my head I guess because this stone building with a guard inside was not what I was expecting.I stop and roll down my window.

“Address please.”The man is polite but not overly friendly.

I rattle off the address that Daphne texted.Then add, “I’m here to see Daphne Emerson.”

“Can I see your ID please?”

I hand over my license and wait while he taps on his little tablet thing.

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